Standing room only as Ames school board honors Woodin

Monday

There was standing room only as the Ames Community School District's Board of Directors took a moment to honor Dan Woodin before the start of Monday night's meeting.

There was standing room only as the Ames Community School District’s Board of Directors took a moment to honor Dan Woodin before the start of Monday night’s meeting.

Woodin, who has served on the board since 2008 and is currently president, has been battling cancer for the past year and recently learned the disease had spread, ending his treatment options. He has been in hospice care at his home in Ames.

At Monday’s school board meeting, District Superintendent Tim Taylor was emotional as he led a packed room of supporters in giving Woodin a standing ovation.

“He is such a positive person that I know he doesn’t want us to be sad today,” Taylor said. “If he were right here next to me, I know he would tell us all to cheer up.”

Woodin has often compared his journey to a “cruise” while posting updates about his progress while being treated for lymphoma, a blood cancer, at the Facebook page, “Woodin Will Win.” His wife Jackie posted a message to the page late Monday, saying the cruise was “abruptly coming to it’s final port.”

“Dan’s legacy will live on through the life he led, the family he loved and the people he touched and his fortunate survivors are blessed with his memory,” she said in her online post.

Jackie Woodin noted that while she and her husband weren’t able to come to Monday’s board meeting, their children would be there. “I know they would appreciate your support as much as Dan and I will always,” she said.

The board honored Woodin while members of his family stood in the front row wearing “Team Woodin” T-shirts in Iowa State University colors of cardinal and gold, no doubt a nod to Woodin’s love of the Cyclones.

Woodin’s name made a frequent appearance as the board continued with their regular business and took action on a slew of items, including approving the formation of a teaching and learning committee. It’s an area Woodin had hoped to focus more on, and Taylor noted the board president helped laid the foundation for the committee.

When swearing in newly elected board members and electing a new president later that evening, board member Bill Talbot said he had hoped to nominate Woodin for the post once again, and that he had never met a man who was more dedicated to his family, the community and to local youth.

“But that is no longer an option for us,” said Talbot, who was re-elected earlier this month along with fellow board member Mike Espeset and newcomer Tim Rasmussen.

Talbot nominated board vice president Luke Deardorff to the board’s top post, a move that was approved by the full board. Board member Teresa Simpson was named vice president.

Among other actions taken at Monday’s school board meeting:

District officials reported that they are continuing to search for a buyer for the district-owned house that sits on the former Roosevelt Elementary property. The school board listed the house for $99,900 following an appraisal earlier this year, but voted earlier this month to reject an initial offer of $58,000 for the home. The district has expressed interest in soliciting a real estate agent in the community to help market the home.

Board members agreed to award a contract to the firm Haila Architecture of Ames for design work on the district’s 24th Street project, which is slated to hold new administration offices and athletic fields. District officials have estimated the cost of the design phase for their 24th Street plans at just under $100,000, while the project’s entire price tag has been placed somewhere around $14 million when including construction of the new administration offices, maintenance facility and proposed athletic fields. District officials have said they plan to move ahead with the project through the design phase and then take a moment to pause and reassess and their funding situation.

The board approved increased discretionary transportation rates for families who live within two miles of their designated schools but still want their children to ride the bus. These discretionary bus rates now average $346.20 for a single child to be taken to and from school for a year, while the cost is slightly higher at $364.50 when split into monthly payments. Under a proposal approved by the board, the rates would increase to $354.80 for a single child to be bused over the course of a school year, and total $373.50 if paid in monthly installments. The rates go down for a second or third child

Board members approved a schematic design for the planned makeover of Kate Mitchell Elementary School in southeast Ames. A design committee has been working for months to sketch out the various changes to the building, which is second in line as the district overhauls all five of its elementary schools under a $55 million bond referendum approved by voters. The board signed off on the Mitchell renovation plans, which include gymnasium and cafeteria improvements, amid concerns from retiring member David Putz about the smaller size of the classrooms when compared to the district’s other elementary schools. Putz asked if the district had gotten an estimate on what it would cost to make the classrooms bigger and Superintendent Taylor responded that it had been looked at and was not something that was affordable. Deardorff noted there was space at the Mitchell site for future additions should the district decide to later expand the school.

The board voted to expand the district’s employee health insurance plan when it comes to immunizations. The plan now provides immunizations for participants through age 7, but with the development of vaccinations for older patients aimed at preventing viruses such as shingles, district officials are expanding that coverage to include participants of any age.

In his departing remarks, board member Putz, who decided not to seek re-election after serving a four-year term, thanked teachers, staff and the public for their support during his tenure, saying “for those who’ve asked, yes, I would do it again.” In his last meeting, Putz urged the board to focus on educational outcomes and maximize the learning of all kids. Putz encouraged the new teaching and learning committee to seek out information that tells the board to what degree the district’s programs are working. “I know that seems like a no-brainer, but it’s important,” said Putz, who after making his final remarks was presented a plaque for his service to the school board.

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